Ba-Ku-Ra!

By: Miss-DNL & RenagadeRexRider

Chapter 32: Missing Piece

"So much for a God!" Akefia's howling laughter rang throughout the golden item and through his link with his vessel. Gradually his laughter degraded to a rumbling chuckle, so as to better enjoy the utterly shocked expression on Malik's face. Smirking he snidely remarks, "Look who underestimated who."

The leader of the Rare Hunters spirit form shook in anger from the humiliation he'd just been dealt, 'He-he forced me into an infinite loop in my own combo! I... I lost!' Recalling what'd happened earlier he snapped a hotly burning gaze towards Ryo, accounting him as the reason for his loss when he'd been a mere step from victory. Silently he growled a threat to him, 'You'd better watch yourself Ring bearer! You dared to take my revenge from me!' Snapping his lavender eyes back to Yami he let out a sharp tch knowing what he had to do next, hand over a god card. Begrudgingly he spoke for his puppet, "As the rules state...you get Osiris and my puppet's locator cards."

Mechanically Strings retrieved Osiris and his locater cards then held them out lifelessly for Yami to take, expression vacant as a statue. Momentarily Yami was reluctant to take them from the empty shell. When at last he did approach to take the needed items he fell under Malik's daggered glare that intensified as he grew nearer.

'I'm not out of this yet Pharaoh. I have a mightier god at my disposal!' Malik declared to himself as the spirit took the cards.

Holding the sky dragon in his hand Yami could practically feel the power coming from it. No doubt it'd come in handy for the rest of Battle City. The spirit of the Millennium Puzzle didn't get to savor his victory any longer when he heard an approach. Thinking it may be Ryo Yami lifted his head and instead saw new arrivals, "Kaiba! Mokuba!?"

Ryo blinked in confusion at the arrivals, and their timing, 'What's he doing here!?'

The Thief King's enjoyment at Malik's seething hateful expression stalled when he turned his attention to Kaiba, his sibling being deemed unimportant, his expression becoming unimpressed, "Oh look, the city's high and mighty priest has come sniffing out more power. Predictable."

Unable to argue against that, a bead of sweat awkwardly slipped down the side of Ryo's head, 'That actually sounds about right...'

Seto Kaiba examined the situation for a moment seeming unsurprised by it he smirked, hand on his hip, "Of course you're the one that won the second god card." Turning his attention squarely to his rival he grinned, "And now that we've met during battle city you know what that means."

'Scratch that, your exactly right.' Ryo conferred to his yami as the CEO headed down towards where Yami was, clearly looking to duel him. He blinked noticing something odd, 'How did he know Osiris had been played?'

"Who knows. All I'm wondering is if 'Pharaoh' has any fight left in him for this match." Akefia answered amusedly, watching Kaiba move in to begin the duel. Shifting his sharp gaze to Strings the thief muttered a low growl, "We got to see how one god works, by luck or not, they are as beatable as back in Egypt. However," Looking down towards the Ring he focused in on one prong that still pointed off in one direction, "We'll need all the power we can get." With rekindled anger he glared back at Strings and his puppet master, "And I want the power that was stripped from me."

Malik's anger had wavered as he looked curiously at Kaiba, whom hadn't even so much as glanced in his direction, the fact only of mild note, 'It seems he can't see me even though he's the reincarnation of the priest, interesting.' Seeing something through another one of his ghouls the former Tomb Keeper blinked. Although amused he withheld his smirk, 'Ah, time for the second round already. Hn, I'll play dead for now." He shot a brief ember of a glare towards Ryo, "Don't need unwanted guests intruding again. I won't be making the same mistake twice!'

With that he released control of Strings causing the mime to fall completely limp, the motion catching Ryo's attention, 'He left.'

This prompted the silverette to glance around a moment as if a counter were underway… but nothing seemed particularly out of place for the moment, and given the overall situation he allowed himself to lax a little. He then looked back over to his friend and Kaiba deliberating for a moment whether or not to remain given the heavy pressure he'd just managed... But realizing the situations were vastly different he allowed a breath of relief, believing solidly that Yugi was able to handle Kaiba. After all, this was mere rivalry. Ryo nodded to himself and made his decision; after all, he himself had something he needed to do, the pressing sensation from his Yami only urged his resolve.

"Yugi!" Ryo Bakura called out with a wave, drawing the duelist's attention, "I'm going on ahead. See you at the finals!"

Once Yami gave Ryo an acknowledging nod the white haired teen ran off in the direction dictated by the Ring's pointer.

Glancing back the King of Thieves narrowed his gaze suspiciously at the limp mime that remained motionless, 'Hmph, I wonder if there's anything actually in there. If not, that's just another extent of the Scepter's power.' Turning his cutting gaze ahead Akefia readied himself to reclaim what was rightfully his, 'Now to get you back to power old friend...'

Running at a steady rate Ryo followed the Ring's pointer closely as possible for several minutes until he came to encounter a man with odd yellow tinged skin, almost the exact same color as his hair, and shifty eyes. This in of itself was offsetting to the teen, suspicious in various ways, but seeing the pointer pointing strongly towards him, even shaking, Ryo snapped his gaze back to him confidently, 'He has it!'

The Rare Hunter, Seeker, easily recognizing Ryo's white hair, immediately contacted Malik through his link to the Scepter, 'Master Malik, they've found me. Should I duel them now as you instructed?'

Elsewhere heading towards his next scheme Malik responded, 'Yes, with the Ring they'll follow you wherever you head; further, I need you to stall them for a bit. I don't need them interfering again!'

'As you wish Master Malik.' Seeker responded dutifully.

Giving the hunter a deadly glare Akefia's voice was stiff and cold as stone, "So he's the one... Very good. I doubt he'll be instructed to leave, but even so we have a face to the pawn."

Nodding at his yami's perceptions, Ryou headed over to the minion quickly picking up on an expectant look he was receiving, following suit he cut straight to the point, "I'm guessing you know why I'm here?"

Seeker smirked slightly, which was unpleasant in combination with his complexion, "I've been told." Lifting up his duel disk he pointed at the deck where the card in question was housed within, "You want the final card correct?" Lowering his arm, he looked at the teen with half laden eyes, almost seeming amused, "You know there's only one way to get it from me right?"

Ryo nodded in upmost focus, "Let's start then."

"Very well," Seeker answered smoothly before they both took stance and declared, "Duel!"

The duel underway both duelists gathered their cards quickly. Cards drawn, Seeker gazed over his hand towards Ryo, "I'll go first since you challenged me." Accepting this Ryo nodded silently. Drawing, Seeker looked over the cards in his hand, a Diabound Kernel already present, 'I have three others in the deck just in case. It's so easy to make copies, but I need to draw the final form, until then...' Moving on to his summon phase Seeker slapped a monster onto his duel disk "I summon Gear Golem the Moving Fortress in defense mode!"

Amidst bright flashing lights a large spiked machine creature appeared standing sentinel in front of its summoner.

||Moving Fortress: Attack: 800 Defense: 2,200||

Seeing the monster's high defense points Ryo frowned, this didn't bode well, 'He's stalling...'

"I play one card face down and end my turn." Seeker stated casually, sure his opponent wouldn't be able to get past his wall monster.

The duel beginning Akefia shuddered in anticipation, the sensation bordering unbearable. Settling himself some given the task ahead he hummed in agreement with Ryo's suspicions, "Yes. Either for a strong summon come next turn or..." He glared at their opponent and couldn't help but suspect Malik's hand in this, "he's playing on his master's order to taunt us."

'I wouldn't put it past him…' Ryo replied slowly, eyeing the hunter who didn't notice or expected it, 'no doubt he's listening.'

Nodding Akefia glared back at Seeker with narrowed eyes, "Let's see then..."

Drawing his card, the sliverette made his move, "My turn. I summon Zombie Dragon in attack mode."

The familiar undead, rotting dragon appeared on the field ready to do battle once more.

||LP: Attack: 1,600 Defense: 0||

Slipping one card into a spell or trap zone Ryo finished his go, "I play one card face down and end my turn."

"I summon Hannibal Necromancer, in defense mode!" Seeker announced after he started his turn. A bizarre blue monster with golden spikes and elongated head appeared crouched down, large arms shielding it as it's three gem-like eyes focused on Ryo

||Hannibal Necromancer: Attack: 1,400 Defense: 1,800||

"I end my turn." Seeker stated calmly with a wave, motioning for Ryo to go.

'Another wall monster...' Ryo thought stiffly to himself, he had a bad feeling about what Seeker could be planning. He needed to put a stop to this soon. He didn't have anything strong enough to tackle the Gear Golem yet but the Necromancer was an easier target. After drawing his card Ryo acted quickly, "I sacrifice Zombie Dragon in order to summon the Earl of Demise in attack mode!" Once the gentlemanly corpse appeared onto the field Ryo gave it his attack order, "Earl, destroy Hannibal Necromancer!"

The fiendish fencer immediately lunged forward on command, blade brandished, aiming to impale the otherworldly spellcaster with its sharp rapier.

"Not so fast! You activated my trap card! Negate Attack!" The trap revealed an invisible barrier appeared in front of the blue monster causing the Earl's attack to bounce right off. Seeker grinned smugly, "My monsters are safe this turn."

Ryo gave a subtle twitch of annoyance at the play, but unable to do anything in response, conceded, "I end my turn..."

The teen's yami was more vocal with his annoyance, grounding out an aggressive growl, "A barrier trap. He is stalling." He shifted his sharp gaze over to Ryo, "Whatever he has, we need to stop it quickly..." In a snap he shot his gaze back over to the rare hunter with the force of a gunshot, his gut instinct prodding him heatedly, "I have a feeling we'll be seeing Diabound soon, and not on our side."

'I know...' Ryo acknowledged, solemnly he looked down at his hand, 'But I don't have anything helpful and it's his turn.'

"My turn!" Seeker proclaimed loudly before immediately playing a spell card, "I play graceful charity!" Both of the players drew three cards then discarded two as per the card's rules. The Rare Hunter frowned irately when he didn't draw what he wanted to, 'Tch, still didn't get it, oh well.'

Ryo on the other hand drew three cards in his favor; Diabound, Rebirth Tablet and the Black Pendent. Maintaining a poker face for the moment he set them in hand, 'Here we go.'

"Not a bad draw at all." Akefia commented, his pleased tone nonwithheld upon a brief glance at the teen's freshly drawn cards, the draw urging his excitement back up. His focus was drawn right back to Seeker however when the sickly looking man continued his move.

"Now I sacrifice Hannibal Necromancer to summon Diabound Kernel!" With a whirlwind effect the sapphire blue spellcaster vanished, and in its place stood a seemingly paler lifeless looking Diabound Kernel; Its eyes missing the awareness that could be seen in the true Diabound. The copy was nothing but a holographic construct, complied data.

||Diabound Kernel: Attack: 1,800 Defense: 1,200||

The call caused a wince from the King of Thieves, the summon in some manner startling, but upon seeing the copy appear on the field his eyes were filled to the brim with fury, "That bastard!" Looking at the Diabound closely he snarled in offense at what he saw, "A lifeless mimic!"

The sight was beyond appalling; all manner of his mighty Ka being shamelessly mimicked and under command of a lackey summoned a rage that was virtually radiating from the Thief. The yami glared at their opponent with a profound hatred, wishing he could get his hands on him to teach him how much of a mistake he'd just made. But unable to do so Akefia was forced to settle with a by far much paler threat, "You will pay for this!"

Unaware of the wrath aimed at him Seeker continued his turn, "Before I end my turn I play Swords of Revealing Light!" Several swords made of golden light immediately rained down from the sky, impaling themselves around Ryo's side of the playing field, trapping both him and his Earl of Demise. Grinning, Seeker dramatically held his hand out and shouted, "Now you can't attack for 3 turns!"

The sudden landing of the swords somewhat shook the thief from his anger, he looked around at the energy blades, their effect prompting an aggravated bristle, "Ah!? Three turns? Damn!" He stated bluntly. Akefia set his jaw in grim thought, 'Even if he doesn't have the final form right now that might be more than plenty of time to get him. He can't possibly expect...' The Egyptian thief's thoughts stalled, eyes widened, "Oh fuck..."

Feeling the storm of his Yami's anger, Ryo could only brace himself at the summon, having well known of its approach. But as the turn continued, Ryo felt himself growing tense under the pressure from within the Ring and the duel at hand, the stalling moves from his opponent bringing the duel to a heated boil in only minutes of its start! The swords only added to that thought. It was only a matter of time before he would see Akefia's coveted monster… A beast that could rival a god monster!

It was at these thoughts that Ryo felt a quickly escalating chill climb up from the back of his mind, something important that was only amplified by his Yami's churning emotions and thoughts. It wasn't until he felt a distinct stall from Akefia that Ryo's train of thought fully took hold, prompting a thick gulp from the teen as he looked to the card in his hand. Ryo didn't respond to Akefia's shared realization, deciding only to take a deep breath and prepare himself, and simply drew his card, "My turn. I summon Earthbound Spirit in defense mode." A pale grey-skinned spirit stuck into the ground appeared in a burst of light, arms wrapped protectively around its head. Even with the added defense Ryo played another card to be safe, "I play one card face and end my turn."

||Earthbound Spirit: Attack: 500 Defense: 2,000||

Beginning his turn Seeker played another spell card, "I play another Graceful Charity." Once again the players drew three cards in exchange for discarding two. This time the result was what the hunter had wanted, and he couldn't help a small grin of triumph, 'Ah, there's the card I need! Just need to play this other card and I'll be set.' Having what he needed he looked snidely over to his opponent, "I end my turn."

Author's Note: Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! A big moment is coming up in the next one! And good news! The rough draft is already ready! It'll be up soon!

This chapter was written by me and edited by Renagade Rex Sphinx

Me: Ryo, Malik, Seeker, Yami, Kaiba

Renagade: Akefia